By Tribute on June 14, 2016 | 39 Comments
Nia Vardalos was the little Canadian comedienne who could. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all-time, despite being an independent film shot mostly in Toronto on a $5 million budget.
Fast forward 14 years and Vardalos and the gang are back in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Toula (Nia Vardalos) and her husband Ian (John Corbett) are happily married and live in Chicago with their daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris).
The family lives next door to Toula’s parents, Gus (Michael Constantine) and Maria Portokalos (Lainie Kazan). Paris is feeling smothered. Gus tells her she’s looking old and needs to find a Greek boyfriend. If that wasn’t bad enough, her mother insists on volunteering at Paris’s school as often as she she can.
Meanwhile, Gus is convinced he is a descendant of Alexander the Great… in fact, he thinks everyone is. After all, Alexander the Great traveled the world spreading his seed and so everybody is Greek #GusLogic.
While looking through his records he finds his marriage license. Upon closer inspection he discovers the priest forgot to sign it, making his marriage to Maria unofficial. Maria jokes that she is a hippie for having children with Gus without technically being married. However, Maria wants Gus to propose to her before she’ll marry him again.
One character I loved was Paris Miller. Elena Kampouris is completely compelling. Even when she’s surrounded by a hoard of eccentric Greek family members, she still commands the scene. Her eyes speak the languages of frustration, anxiety, facetiousness, disengagement, embarrassment and best of all, joy. If the film had focused more on Paris it would have been a much stronger movie.
Nia Vardalos and John Corbett have chemistry in this movie just as they did in the last. The problem is that the movie has to juggle three storylines. Gus and Maria’s wedding, Paris choosing a university and Nia’s marital slump. Too much time is dedicated to Gus and Maria, so the character the audience is most likely to relate to, are relegated to the sidelines.
When My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is funny, it’s hilarious. There’s a scene where older Greek men are doing shots, followed by a group of young Greek boys doing shots of orange Gatorade. Another detail worth commending is the inclusion of a gay Greek into the film. The character isn’t given enough time to be fleshed out, but the Portokalos family accepts him and his partner with open arms.
The Blu-ray comes with several entertaining bonus features. The Gag Reel was a welcome addition because the actors were loose and unscripted, allowing their spontaneity and instincts to come out. Making the Greekquel tells the story of why it took 14 years to make a sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My Big Fat Greek Dinner is the perfect treat for the movie-watcher with an appetite.
This movie is a nostalgic trip for those who saw the first film. As long as you’re O.K. with retreading the same jokes as the first movie and spending most of the movie with Toula’s parents and extended family, this movie will have you cheering “OPA!”
We have two copies of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 to give away! To be eligible to win, tell us below what you liked best about the first movie. We’ll pick a winner this Friday (June 17) so watch your email for a notice!
Have you seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2? Either way I know you saw the first one! Leave a comment telling us what you think of these movies, and don’t forget to click here to write your own review. ~Yanis Khamsi
September 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment
There are two new movies opening across Canada this weekend – The Nun II and My Big Fat Greek Wedding starring Nia Vardalos. Click to check them both out!
December 12, 2017 | Leave a Comment
New on DVD, Blu-ray and digital today, hilarious spy adventure Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the highly anticipated Game of Thrones: Season 7 and much more!
June 21, 2016 | Leave a Comment
This week’s batch of DVD and Blu-ray releases includes a number of thrilling films including The Brothers Grimsby, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Knight of Cups, The Wave and more!
The first movie had heart.
I loved being able to relate to the ethnic differences. It reminded me of so many things growing up (even though I’m not Greek) – transplanted ethnicities fitting in with the Canadian lifestyle often highlighted many differences. Some not-so-funny, and some downright hysterical!
I liked the father spaying windex on everything thinking that it was a cure all for what ever was wrong with you .
I loved the chaos of their big family.
The first movie was great and funny!!! I love how they coonect the origins of a word to greek 🙂
The funniest part of the first one was when Toula said Ian is a vegetarian, and her aunt responded, Don’t worry, it’s lamb.
Watching the family interact with each other made was comical.
I liked how the Greek father would spray everything with windex.
Happy Tuesday tribute! I haven’t seen the sequel but would love to see it! The first one I just loved, because well,.. Nia vardalos is a winnipegger, my hometown. I absolutely adore Andrea Martin, loved her especially from SCTV, (ednas emporium and the infamous Edith prickley), and the windex…hahahhaa every time I see windex I think of that movie. So yes, I would love to win this movie! I know I would absolutely love it! Thanks so much!
I watch the first one 10 years ago, then I watch the second one!! I love it!! So funny how this family can solve every problem together!!
I loved that Nia (and a lot of her fam) was from Winnipeg, and Andrea Martin had the best lines.
Distinction Tribute Sequels as the awe-inspiring achievement of its dedicated and devoted presentation Episode . Along its avid presentation. I like to win this movie ticket !
Loved the first movie. Cleaning the plastic furniture covers with glass cleaner was hilarious. Haven’t seen the second movie yet, but would definitely like to!
The first movie was so funny! I could so relate to Toula
My Big Fat Greek Wedding was one of the first PG-13 movies I remember seeing in theaters so it will always have a special place in my heart. The bunt cake scene is one of my favorite scenes in the first movie and is one of the most quoted at my house.
Saw 1 but not 2
love the first movie haven’t had chance to see part 2
I saw this at the show and it was cute! Not as good as the first one, and I agree, there should have been more focus on the daughter (and she could have been a little less bratty) but overall I liked it!
I haven’t seen the 2nd one but loved the first story, proud to say Nia is from Winnipeg
Very funny
i liked the originality of the first movies and the endless laughs
The first movie was very entertaining and funny!
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (original) was great and I look forward to being able to see the sequel.
What I liked best about the first movie was the acting and the script. Put the two together and you have a great entertaining film.
Saw the first one and thought it was funny. Haven’t seen the sequel yet
Saw the first thought it was a good movie but have yet to see the sequel
Have not seen the sequel yet. My girlfriend wanted to see it so winning this would be for her.
Really like the first movie but haven’t seen the second one yet. I expect it to be good too.
I loved the comedy and the way Greek culture was lovingly poked fun at.
I love the story behind how the first movie got made and how it was based on Nia Vardalos’ stand up comedy routine. Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson took a risk on a great talent and I love how it paid off. Ms. Vardalos is a great talent and I love the story she brought to us.
Love to have a copy of this movie…loved the last one so much!!
love this movie
I mainly love the relatability- I have family members that remind me exactly of these characters!
Loved the first movie. It was very funny and made me laugh over and over again. A big hit with my whole family.
I loved the first one! It was so hilarious! It is one of my favorite romantic comedy to watch! And even if the first movie was made in 2002, the story of interracial couples is very actual. There are more and more interracial couples where I live (Montreal, Canada) and it is a beautiful thing! And speaking about that, there are cultural differences between me and my boyfriend. I am asian, he is quebecers. It is not always easy but we love each other and that’s the most important thing. Good luck everybody for the draw! 🙂
It was so funny when the dad, Gus, cleaned everything with Windex.
It is just like my girlfriends family. Fun to watch!
I loved this movie. It was absolutely hilarious the whole way through.
I watch both movies every year at least twice. These actors are hilarious. The movies inform and entertain. I did not enjoy the spitting part, although it was Funny and good to know part of their traditions. Although I’m not Greek I can relate to many of the cultural traditions, especially the one where they cook in the front yard, haha! The music and the conversations were fascinating. Good script, good actors, good theme, what else do you need for a good film? When is the next one coming?